Grow the Game®

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Share on whatsapp

Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Marist

We’re back with the Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Previews! Like last year, we’ll go through all of the D1 men’s teams for 2014 (there are 67 this year!) and we are now moving on to the Marist Red Foxes, located in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Marist had a breakout year in 2013, won a bunch of close games, and finished the season with a 10-4 record. Before losing the last two games of the year, Marist was even sniffing the Top 20! OT wins over Towson and Siena were some of their best wins, and a 19-11 loss at Duke in midseason showed that Marist had some fight. Can the Red Foxes improve on their 2013 mark? Are they the team to beat in the MAAC?

Marist dropped Duke from their schedule, but picked up Air Force and Denver early in the year. Marist still plays Towson, and they have also added Hofstra. It looks like their schedule took a little step up!

Connor Rice and Jack Doherty led the offense for 2013, and both of them are gone. The next highest scorer on the team was Joseph Radin, and his 34 points from attack last year will be needed this year. Drew Nesmith, Mike Begley, and Gannon Osborn will be a solid first line of middies. Colin Joka should see more time at attack, as could Dillon Walker. Marist also has some younger guys with potential at attack, and should be able to find some depth in their midfield. Inexperience could be a definite concern.

Domenic Montemurro is likely going to see a lot of time taking draws, and he did ok as a freshman last year, winning 47% of his 72 draws. Dave Scarcello returns in the other specialty position, and he had a solid year in between the pipes last season, averring about 9 goals against with a 53% save rate.

Ben Willet returns with some experience on D, but guys like Nick Struble, Mike Collins, and Jesse Brown are going to need to step up. Marist was ravaged by graduation at the long pole position, and this is a major are of concern for the Red Foxes. They have good size down low, and four freshman poles, but limited experience, and this could spell trouble. The Marist offense could be as good as it was last year, and face offs/goaltending could be improved, but defense is a glaring issue.

If Marist can plug up their defensive holes and seamlessly transition to this new group, they could once again compete for a MAAC title. But if the D doesn’t show up better than expected, it could be long season of tight games again… but this time a lot of those wins could be end up being losses.

For more NCAA D1 Lacrosse coverage, check out Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Preview: Air ForceAlbanyArmyBellarmineBinghamtonBostonBrownBryantBucknellCanisius,
Colgate,  CornellDartmouthDelawareDetroitDrexelDukeFairfieldFurman,
GeorgetownHartfordHarvardHigh PointHobartHofstraHoly CrossJacksonvilleJohns HopkinsLafayetteLehigh, and Loyola.